Same technique, different fabric.
This piece of work is a continuation of the technique used in the last practical module, where the fabric is perpendicular to the body instead of flat against it, and both the contours of the individual body and the desired final silhouette are what determines the shape of the pattern pieces.
Having had some success working with calico, I wanted to try this technique with different fabrics and decided to try using PVC. I was hoping that it would be visually striking, if you could see the different layers through the piece itself.
I sketched a rough idea of the overall silhouette I wanted to achieve and, working from the mannequin, used pins to mark out 1 inch intervals around the waist. I did a quick test to check that the PVC would work on my domestic sewing machine, and used scrap paper to start carving out the shape I wanted.
I measured the contours of the body at each 1 inch interval and cut the paper to size so that it lay level against the body. I then marked out the angle as it would be viewed from the top, and carefully measured each piece so that every section had its point at exactly the same level as the 2 pieces either side.
I then took apart the structure to reveal my pattern pieces, and used the transparency of the PVC to help cut it out without having to trace each pattern piece onto the fabric.
Stitching these pieces together was quite laborious and heavier than I had expected. Unlike previous attempts at using this technique, instead of springing back on itself the structure continually stretched and grew. There was no hope of it staying on the model itself, so I sourced some strong wide pink elastic for it to hang from.
At this stage I wasn't overjoyed with the outcome, until after I had happened to leave the elastic around the neck of the mannequin, ready to use later. Initially my plan was to make an entire garment in this manner, using only clear PVC. After seeing the elastic and the PVC together, it made me realise that actually this contrast was what was missing from my design - something solid for the transparency to stand out against.
I used the elastic as planned, around the waist, where I think it works quite well, but I will be conscious of the need for contrast in future designs.
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